Curtain stretcher construction



K. J. UNWlN CURTAIN STRETCHER CONSTRUCTION March 30, 1954 3 Sheets sheet l Filed May 21, 1949 March 30, 1954 K. J. uNwlN CURTAIN STRETCHER CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 21, 1949 `March 30, 1954 K. J. UNWIN CURTAIN STRETCHER CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 21, 1949 BY M Patented Mar. 30, 1954 Kenneth J.' Unwin, Kenosha,

Inc., Kenosha, Wis.,.a cor-v n Quaker Foundation,

pcrationof Wisconsi Wis., assignor to Y Application May 21, 1949,' Serial N o. 94,676

3 Claims; 1..

This inventionrelates to acurtain stretcher and more particularly it relates to a metal cur-- tain stretcher to which curtains are-held by'a plurality of impaling pins.

Heretofore itv has been common practice to make curtain stretchers of Wood, having metal impaling pinsfor holdingcurtains or other material. These stretchers have beenheavy and unwieldy and are forl this reason disliked by manyusers. Av further disadvantage of wooden stretchersis that the wood is adversely affected by atmospheric and climatic conditions, causing the wood to expand or split and thus loosen the grip of the wood on the impaling pins. Attempts to constructcurtain'stretchers of metal have en- 'countered many difficulties. A primary dimculty hasbeen that of satisfactorily securing the impaling pins so thatthey'would not Work loose through use. Another disadvantage found in earlier'attemptsv was` the inherent weight of the iron or steel used;

It is accordingly an object ofthis invention to present a metal curtain stretcher having a plurality of impaling pins and preferably made of a lightweight metal such as aluminum-and utilizing a non-metallic insert in the metal frame to secure the impaling pins.

It is af further objectof the present invention to present a metal curtain stretcherhaving a plurality of impaling pins forehclding curtains or other-fabric in'which the component parts vof the stretcher are of a substantially uniform length and are joined by novel hinging and clamping' means so that the stretcher'may becollapsed into a compact bundle of a substantiallyr uniform length;

It is a still further object of theV instant invention to provide a metal curtain stretcher having a plurality of impaling pins,A said stretcher being preferably formed of sheet metal folded in suchv a fashion as to be strong and rigid while being light in weight and easy to handle.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a metal curtain stretcher'as'just described having a bridge for connecting adja-v cent curtain supporting surfaces lying in different planes and having resilient feet to prevent scarring of the floor or othersupporting surface.

Other and further objects and advantages of' the current invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal ofthe follow-- ingV description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the metal cur-V tainstretcher.havingimpaling-pins;-V

v sists generally of' aV im.' I5 for securing Fig. 2 is a perspective viewk of the' curtain stretcher in disassembled and foldedr position;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view'of'ahmged'corner of the stretcher frame;

Fig. 4 is a perspective^ viewofthebaclc of"l a' corner showing the hinge and showing a' supjporting leg and itsfastening means;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view'takenalong the line 5 5 in'Fig; 4;

Fig. 6 isa perspective'view showing the joints of' the two horizontal membersand'the means by which they are fastenedit'o thecentraldeg;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view takenalong the line 'I--T in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional viewtaken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectionalnview'takenalong the line 9--9 ink Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view show= ing part of the clampingmeans shown'inFi'g'. 9;

Fig. along, the line I I-i I in' Fig. 1 showing the`leve1'- ling, bridge;

Fig, 12 is a vertical sectional Vview taken'al'ong the line I 2-I2 in Fig. 1 showing another view of the bridge;

Fig. 13 is an exploded. perspectiveview showing parts of the levelling bridge;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary perspectivetview of a portion of the center legshowingthev resilient foot; and

Fig. 15 isa cross sectionalviewofthe body or. frame member ofthe curtain stretcher.,

Referringnow in greater' detail to the flgures. may be seenV that the curtain". stretcher conpair of end` legsy I and 3, supporting brace legs 5,' and 1, and upper. and lower horizontal frame members 9 and and supported by a substantially verticaLleg I3 and, a substantially vertical curtain supporting4 member I5. The substantially vertical isr joined to the lefthalf 9a of the.

leg which The` plate-like member. I5 is pivotally. connected tothesubstantially vertical'legl by means offa rivet I9. Aslot 2l in the member I5 accommodates a threadedr legI I. movement in the leg I by a square portion under its head cooperating with a square aperture in the leg I; A wing nut` 25 isthreaded onto the screw 23and clampingly-engages'the member 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken.

I I joined' horizontal" frame. member 9' by aY hinge. construction` is best' bolt 23` projecting from the The bolt 23 issecuredagainst rotational thelhorizontal member 9aVl andthe` leg I at substantially right angles and may be loosened for folding these two members into substantial parallelism. rIhe curtain stretcher is held in substantially upright position by the legs 5 and 1. A anged plate 21 is riveted to the leg I by means of the rivets 29. The ange portion of the member 21 is pivotally secured to the leg 5 by means of a rivet 3i. A folding brace 33 prevents the supporting leg 5 from accidentally moving toward the leg I. The left portion 33a of the brace is pivotally joined to the right portion 33h of the brace by a rivet 35. The left and right portions of the brace are pivotally joined to the legs 5 and I by means of the rivets 31 and 39. Cooperating indents QI in the two halves 33a and 33h of the brace secure the brace 33 in an extended position, but lt loosely enough that the center portion of the brace 33 may be positioned upwardly to fold it and thus fold the leg 5 into substantial parallelism with the leg I. Cooperating shoulder portions 53 in the raised portions 33o. and 33h impart rigidity to the opened brace and prevent the center portion of it from being forced downwardly. A relieved channel-like portion #i5 is provided in the brace member 33a so that the shoulder portion 43 of the brace member 33h may pass adjacent the brace portion 33a when the brace 33 is folded. The means for joining the right upper horizontal portion 9b to the leg 3 is the same as that for joining the left portion 9a to the leg I and need not be described. Similarly, the leg 1 is joined to the leg 3 and braced by a brace member i1 in a fashion similar to that just explained in regard to the legs 5 and I.

The cross sectional shape of the leg i and horizontal member 9 as well as that of the lower horizontal member II and the vertical curtain supporting member I5 is leg 3 has a cross section very much like this and will be described at the same time. lThe frame member consists preferably of a sheet of light weight metal such as aluminum folded to form front and rear faces 41 and 49 respectively. These faces are joined by a transverse face 5I, and a face 53 parallel to this latter one extends rearwardly from the front face 41 and is provided with a flange 55 for greater rigidity and strength. The rear face 59 is folded forwardly at 51 and back parallel to 51 at 59, then upon itself at 5I and forwardly again at 63 to form a substantially U-shaped channel. 'I'his channel is somewhat narrower at the top than at the bottom and securely grips an insert G5 of plastic or other resilient material which firmly secures the impaling pins 61. The impaling pins are preferably roughened or barbed at their lower portions 69 for more secure gripping. The leg member 3 differs from the other cross sections referred to in that it does not have the impaling pins in the insert and consequently does not have the bottom 5I and side wall 53 of the U-shaped channel.

The lower lhorizontal member I I is composed of leftand right sections IIa and IIb, respectively, similar to the top horizontal member 9. As best seen in Fig. 6, the portions 9a and 9b of the top member are held together by a solid rectangular insert 1I which may be of the same material as the rest of the frame. The insert 1 I is fitted tightly within the frame member 9a and secured against longitudinal movement by a threaded bolt 13. The insert 1I frictionally fits within the right upper horizontal member ab to shown in Fig. l5. The -i secure the two halves of the member 9 together. The left half I Ia of the lower horizontal member tightly holds an insert 15 similar to the insert 1I. A hook-like threaded rod 11 extends through the member IIa and insert 15 and positively insures against relative longitudinal movement. The insert 15 frictionally fits within the right half IIb of the lower horizontal member to secure it to the left half Ila. The central supporting leg I3 is provided at its top and with a rectangular slot 19 which fits under the head of the threaded bolt 13. The bolt 13 is provided with a square portion directly under its head for cooperation with the rectangular slot 19 to prevent rotation of the bolt 13. A wing nut 8l is threaded onto the bolt 13 and is tightened to secure the center supporting leg I3 to the upper horizontal member 9 and further secures the insert 1I within the member 9a. The hook shaped rod 11 hooks around e. portion of the leg I3 and is pulled tight against it by a wing nut 83 threaded onto the end of the rod projecting through the insert 15 and lower horizontal frame member IIa. The cross section of the leg I3 is best seen in Fig. 8 and is substantially U- shaped with the edges folded down for greater strength and rigidity.

The lower horizontal member II is secured by means of clamps 85 and 81 to the legs I and 3. As these clamps are identical only one will be described. The clamp 81, as best seen in Fig. l0, consists of a bar 89 of essentially channel-shaped cross section which is bent near one end to form a substantially right angle. The bar 89 fits through a slot 9i in an essentially J-shaped memer 93. A threaded bolt extends through a hole 91 in the J -shaped member and a hole 99 in the bar 89 and is surrounded by e. compression spring Ibi. The hole 99 is square as is the portion I93 or" the bolt adjacent the head for securing the bolt against rotative movement. A hole is provided in the side of the Jshaped member 93 for clearance of the head of the bolt 95, and the bolt 95 has a diagonal crimp IIi'I near its end to prevent accidental removal of the wing nut 199. This feature of the crimp is found in all of the bolts in the stretcher. The bar 59 is secured by rivets III to the end of the lower horizontal member i Ia. When the wing nut |59 is tightened it forces the J-shaped member 93 to the right and clamps the leg I between the J-shaped member 93 and the end of the lower horizontal member I Ia. The horizontal member may thus be slid up and down at will and secured at any desired elevation.

The vertical curtain supporting member I5 is secured at one end to the upper horizontal member 9 by a clamp I3 similar to the clamps 85 and 31. This vertical member i5 overlies the horizontal member II and consequently the curtain supporting surfaces oi these two members lie in diierent planes at the intersection of these two members. A bridge member I i5 is accordingly incorporated as a clamp to smoothly join these two surfaces together. As may best be seen in Fig. 13, the bridge member II5 consists of a metal strip II1 bent so as to have substantially parallel surfaces I I9 and 12E at each end. A plurality of impaling pins 23 are secured in the strip I il. The surface II is perforated by a hole 25 through which a rivet E21 passes to secure the strip I I1 to a modified U-shaped portion 129. This U-shaped portion is modified by having inwardly turned nanges I3i at its ends. A square hole |33 is provided in the U-shaped portion I29 through which a bolt 35 passes and is secured against .rotating movement by its square portion directly below the head. An angular clamping piece |31 having a hole I 39 is also placed over the bolt |35 with a compression spring I4I disposed between the surface I2I and the clamping piece |31. The U- shaped member |29 is slipped over the member IIb before the member IIb is secured to member IIa. The clamping piece I 37 fits over the vertical curtain support I5 and bears at its right edge against the front face 41 of the member I 5, The left end of the clamping piece |31 bears against the front face of the horizontal member I I b. The left end 9 of the strip II'I bears against the front surface of the rear face of the member I Ib, and the right end I2I lies adjacent to the curtain supporting surface of the upright member I5. A wing nut |38 threaded onto the bolt |35 holds the various pieces clamped together.

Each of the upright members, with the exception of the curtain supporting member I5, bears on a floor or other supporting surface and is provided with resilient feet |43 of rubber or the like which are folded over the ends of the substantially upright members as I3 and secured by rivets |45. The upright members I, 3, I3 and I5 and the horizontal portions 9a, 9b, IIa, and IIb are all of a substantially common length so that when the stretcher is disassembled and folded it will form a neat, compact bundle, as shown spread out in Fig. 2. It is apparent that due to the clamp securing means the horizontal member II and the vertical curtain supporting member I5 may be moved about to fit various sized curtains.

It is apparent that this invention provides a metal curtain stretcher having a plurality of impaling pins for securing curtains or other fabric pieces. This stretcher is light weight, yet strong and rigid and may be collapsed into a neat, compact bundle and when in use may be adjusted to accommodate a variety of different sized curtains. Obviously various changes may be made in the specific embodiment set forth for purposes of illustration without departing from the principles of the invention. 'I'he invention is accordingly not to be limited to the precise details disclosed herein, but includes all modifications thereof within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A metal curtain stretcher including a plurality of metal body or frame members, a plurality of said metal frame members comprising substantially parallel front and rear faces, a surface disposed at substantially right angles to said front and rear faces and joining them in spaced relation, a surface extending rearwardly from said front face and substantially perpendicular thereto, an inwardly turned flange extending from said last identified surface imparting rigidity to said frame member, and an extension of said rear face extending forwardly therefrom and substantially normal thereto, said extension folded rearwardly upon itself, to one side parallel to and in contact with said rear face, and nally forwardly and substantially normal to said rear face so as to form a substantially U-shaped channel, an insert in said U-shaped channel and of material softer than the material of said body or frame members, and a plurality of impaling pins imbedded in said insert.

2. A metal curtain stretcher as defined in claim 1 in which the substantially U-shaped channel is narrower at the top than at the bottom.

3. A metal curtain stretcher as defined in claim 1, in which the insert secured within said U- shaped channel portion is non-metallic.

KENNETH J. UNWIN.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 929,181 Adler July 27, 1909 1,118,858 Hiegel Nov. 24, 1914 1,229,621 Knittel June 12, 1917 1,806,084 Roe May 19, 1931 1,893,910 Silverman Jan. 10, 1933 1,910,493 Mistasu et al May 23, 1933 1,943,763 Hoiles Jan. 16, l1934 2,236,745 Block Apr. 1, 1941 2,250,057 Block July 22, 1 941 2,282,393 Block May 12, 1942 2,429,256 Block Oct. 21, 1947- 2,448,574 Bothe Sept. 7, 1948 2,559,573 Unwin July 3, 1951 2,588,332 Unwin Mar. 4, 1952 

